Effect of aqueous Enicostemma littorale Blume extract on key carbohydrate metabolic enzymes, lipid peroxides and antioxidants in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The present study investigates the effect of oral administration of an aqueous Enicostemma littorale whole plant extract on some key carbohydrate metabolic enzymes and antioxidant defence in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. Rats were rendered diabetic by alloxan (150 mgkg(-1) body weight) administration. Oral administration of E. littorale extract for 45 days increased the activity of hexokinase and decreased the activities of glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase significantly in the serum, liver and kidney of diabetic rats. The extract lowered the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides significantly in brain and increased it significantly in heart in diabetic rats. E. littorale administration increased the concentration of reduced glutathione and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in diabetic rats. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased significantly by E. littorale treatment in diabetic rats. The effect of a 2 g kg(-1) dose was greater than that of a 1 gkg(-1) dose. Insulin (6 units kg(-1)) normalized all the parameters in diabetic rats. Our study has provided evidence for the antidiabetic activity of E. littorale aqueous extract. This study can also be extrapolated to clinical studies in future.